Rail-anchor.



E. LAAS.

RAIL ANCHOR.

APPUCATION FILED FEB. 2a, 1916.

1,205,359, Patented Nov. 21, 1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET1.

E. LAA S.

RAIL ANCHOR.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 26, 1916.

Patented Nov. 21, 1916.

4 SHEE|'SSHEET 2.

4% NVENTOR.

E. LAAS.

RAIL ANCHOR.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 26. 1916.

1 05,359. Patented Nov. 21, 1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

A TTOANE VJ,

E. LAAS.

RAIL ANCHOR.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 26. 1916.

-SHEET 4.

Patented Nov. 21, 1916.

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"U NITED TATES PATENT @FFIQE.

EDWARD LAAS, OF CHICAGD, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNGR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO OTTO R. BARNETT, OIICHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

RAIL-ANCHOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 26, 1916. Serial No. 80,658.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EDWARD Lass, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in RaiLAnchors, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to devices known as rail anchors or anti-creepers to prevent the longitudinal creep of railroad rails, and more particularly to rail anchors or anticreepers of the type employing a spring member as a part of the means used for providing the gripping action of the device on the rail.

The invention has for its primary object to provide a rail anchor of this type which will have very great holding power, in which retrograde movement of the coengaging parts liable to destroy or impair the grip of the device on the rail is effectively prevented, and in which the'parts are so constructed and arranged that vibration is absorbed so that the device cannot be rattled .sectional plan showing a rail anchor constructed in accordance with my invention as applied to a rail. Fig. 2 is a sectional view on line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a View, in perspective, of' the spring key shown in the preceding two figures. Fig. 4 is a plan view of a modified embodiment of the invention. Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation on line 55 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a view, in perspective, of the key employed in the device shown in Figs. 4 and 5. Fig.

.7 is a sectional View on line 7-7 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 is a plan view illustrating a further modification. Fig. 9 is a view, in perspective, of the spring key employed in this embodiment of the invention. Fig. 10 is a spect to the edge of the rail base.

be seen that the spring key absorbs vibraplan view of another modification. Fig. 11 is a sectional view on line 11-11 of Fig. 10, and Figs. 12 and 13 are views, in perspective, of the two elements making up the wedge, by means of which the yoke is engaged with the rail.

Like characters of reference designate like parts in the several figures of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, A is a railroad rail and B one of the ties on which the rail is laid.

The rail anchor shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive consists of a yoke or rail embracing element 10 and a spring key or wedge The rail embracing element consists preferably, though not necessarily, of a single integral structure, for example, a malleable casting, and is provided at one end with a 'jaw 12 engaging one edge of the base of rail A. The other end of yoke 10 is formed with a jaw 13 which extends around but is spaced from the adjacent edge of the rail base. The yoke is formed preferably at one end with a plate or flange 14 which is adapted to bear against tie B, the other end of the yoke preferably standing out of contact with the tie so that when the device is in position on a rail the tendency of the rail to creep is self-checked because of the cramping effect of the anchor on the rail base. The spring key consists, in this form of the invention, of a single piece of spring steel folded upon itself so as to provide divergent legs 15 and 16, the latter being formed with a lip 17 which overlaps the edge of the rail base. The leg 16 is slightly curved at its free end so as to provide an edge 18 which bites into the rail base. The key is preferably driven in between the yoke and one edge of the rail base until the legs 15, 16 bear against each other. WVhen in this condition the key forms a positive wedge between the rail base and jaw 13 on one of the legs, leg 15, for example, being preferably of increased width in the direction away from the apex of the V and the inner surface 19 of jaw 13 being correspondingly oblique with re- It will tion so that there is little danger that the rail anchor will be rattled loose from the rail. The elasticity of the key also tends to prevent it'from being backed out of its operative position when the rail contracts or because of the retrograde movement of the rail which is believed to take place immediately after the train has passed over the same. The fact that the key is provided with a biting edge 18 which, in the form of the device shown in these figures, engages the edge of the rail base,serves to hold the parts of the rail anchor in their proper relative positions.

The term V-shaped as applied to the key is used in a generic sense to intend a structure comprising two parts or legs united together at one end and diverging to a greater or less extent from the point of junction.

Figs. 4 to 7 inclusive show an embodiment of the invention which, in certain respects, is considered superior to the embodiment just described. The rail embracing member 20 is formed with a jaw 21 engaging the base of the rail at one side thereof and at the other end with a jaw 22, the top 23 of which cent the tie B and gradually widens in the direction away from the tie, the inner edge 24 of the jaw being oblique with respect to the rail, when the rail anchor is in its operative position, so that only one corner 25 of the jaw bears upon the top of the rail base. As the jaw 21 stands away from tie B, any rocking movement of the anchor toward the tie produces a binding action of the corner 25 of the jaw upon the top of the rail base. The spring key consists preferably of a single strip of spring steel bent so as to provide a leg 26 which lies against the wedging face 27 on the inside of the jaw 22 and a leg 28 which is preferably formed with a curved offset 29 projecting toward the other leg 26. The ofiset portion 29 of leg 28 terminates in a biting edge 30 which bears against the rail base. 31 is a tie abutting flange or plate adapted to bear against the tie B.

The device is applied to the rail by first slipping jaw 22 over one edge of the rail base, then adjusting jaw 21 to the other edge of the rail base, and then driving the spring wedge between aw 22 and the adj acent edge of the rail base until the off-set 29 bears against the leg 26. The spring key is preferably so proportioned that the off-set portion 29 lies to a considerable extent within the jaw when the device is in operative position so that to all intents and purposes the spring key, though resilient, acts as a positive rigid wedge. By forming the inner leg 28 of the spring wedge with the curved or off-set... portion 29 the holding power of the biting edge on the rail is very considerable. The thrust of the rail against the tooth is transmitted through the sharply divergent extremity of the leg 28 against leg edge in the edge of the rail base. The biting edge also necessarily prevents the wedge from working backwardly along the rail due to vibration of the rail and holds the wedge in place against other disturbing influences.

The fact that the corner of the jaw has a bearing on the top of the rail base checks any tendency which the edge of the rail base might have to vibrate up and down in the jaw. Such vibration if not checked might loosen the hold of the device on the rail. The off-set, it will be seen, makes the key in effect a wedge even when it is compressed as far as practical to compress it. That is, it prevents the legs of the key from being compressed into parallelism with each other. Furthermore, the holding power of the wedge is considerably increased when it is driven in far enough so that the off-set begins to flatten. Because of its configuration, the key locks itself between the yoke and rail whatever position it may assume.

A modification is shown in Figs. 8 and 9. The yoke 32 is formed with a jaw 33 similar to jaw 21 in the embodiment of the invention just described, and at the other end with a jaw 34 which bears upon the top of the rail base at the corner 35 adjacent the tie. This arrangement does not give quite as much holding power as the other inasmuch as any movement of the jaw 33 toward the tie tends to diminish instead of increase the wedging action of the corner of jaw 34 on the rail base. In the Fig. 8 arrangement, however, the bearing of the jaw on the top of the rail base is advantageously located so far as the function'of preventing the vibration of the rail in the anchor is concerned. In this modification the leg 36 of the spring .key which bears against the jaw is formed with the curved off-set, designated 37 The other leg 38 is preferably bent at its extremity away from and then toward the rail so as to provide a biting edge 89.

In the modification shown in Figs. 10 to 18 inclusive, the yoke 40 is engaged with the rail by means of a wedge consisting of two parts 41 and 42. The former is relatively rigid. The latter is made of spring material, one end of which is bent to form a hook 43 which engages a recess 44 in member 41. The other end of the spring member is formed with an outward bend 45, the extremity of which provides a biting edge 46 adapted to bite into the edge'of the rail base. The engagement between hook 43 and recess 44 prevents the member 42, which is in contact with the rail, from backing out of the yoke when the rail contracts or creeps in the direction away from the tie B. The wedging members 41, 42 may be driveninto operative position by hammering on the end of member ll.

I/Vhile I have described my invention in certain preferred embodiments, it will be understood that further modifications might be made without departure from the principles of the invention. Therefore I do not wish to be understood as limiting the invention to the particular constructions, arrangements and devices shown and described eX- cept so far as certain of the claims are specifically so limited.

This application is a continuation in'part of my co-pending application Serial No. 56,481 filed October 18, 1915.

I do not claim herein specifically the construction shown in Figs. 10 to 13 inclusive, as this modification is made the subject of a co-pending application Serial No. 109,669, filed July 17, 1916.

I claim:

1. In a rail anchor, the combination of a rail embracing element and a spring key V-shaped in plan view intervening between the rail embracing element and the rail.

2. In a rail anchor, the combination of a rail embracing element and a spring key intervening between the rail embracing element and the rail providing divergent members united at one end.

3. In a rail anchor, the combination of a rail embracing element and a spring key intervening between the rail embracing element and the rail consisting of a strip of metal bent upon a transverse axis to form divergent legs.

4. In a rail anchor, the combination of a rail embracing element and a spring key intervening between the rail embracing ele- 'ment and the rail consisting of a strip of metal bent upon a transverse aXis to form divergent legs and provided with an edge adapted to bite into'the rail 5. In a rail anchor, the combination of a rail embracing element and a spring key V-shaped in plan view intervening between the rail embracing element and the rail and provided with an edge adapted to bite into one of the surfaces between which the key is interposed.

6. In a rail anchor, the combination of a rail embracing element and a V-shaped spring key intervening between the rail embracing element and the rail, one leg of which is curved at its extremity and formed with an edge adapted to bite into the rail.

7. In a rail anchor, the combination of a rail embracing element and a V-shaped spring key intervening between the rail embracing element and the rail, one leg of which is curved at its extremity and formed with an edge adapted to bite into one of the surfaces between which the key is inter posed.

8. In a rail anchor, the combination of a rail embracing element and a V-shaped spring key intervening between the rail embracing element and the rail, one leg of which has an olf-set toward the other.

9. In a rail anchor, the combination of a rail embracing element and a V-shaped spring key intervening between the rail embracing element and the rail, one leg of which has a bend toward and then away from the other.

10. In a rail anchor, the combination of a rail embracing element and a V-shaped spring key intervening between the rail embracing element and the rail, one leg of which has a bend toward and then away from the other and is provided at its eX tremity with a sharp edge.

11. In a rail anchor, the combination of a rail embracing element and a V-shaped spring key intervening between the rail embracing element and the rail, one leg of which has an offset toward the other leg adapted to bear against the other leg when the key is driven into place between the rail embracing element and the rail.

12. In a rail anchor, the combination of a rail embracing element and a V-shaped sprmg key adapted to intervene between the rail and the rail embracing element with one leg bearing against the other, one of said legs being provided with an edge arranged to bite into one of the surfaces between which said key intervenes.

13. In a rail anchor, the combination of a rail embracing element and a spring key intervening between the rail embracing ele ment and the rail provided with divergent members united at one end, one of said members being formed with an oif-set adapted to bear against the other.

14. In a rail anchor, the combination of a rail embracing element and a spring key intervening between the rail embracing element and the rail providing divergent members united at one end, one of said members being formed at its free end with an edge adapted to bite into one ofthe surfaces between which said key intervenes.

15. In a rail anchor, the combination of a rail embracing element and a spring key intervening between the rail embracing element and the rail providing divergent members united at one end, one of said members being formed at its free end with an edge adapted to bite into the rail.

16. In a rail anchor, the combination of a. rail embracing element and a key providing means for engaging said rail embracing element with the rail which comprises two members resiliently united with each other at one end so as to be compressible one toward the other.

17. In a rail anchor, the combination of a rail embracing element and a key providing means for engaging said rail embracing element with the rail which comprises two members resiliently united with each other at one end so as to be compressible one toward the other, one of said members having an offset adapted to bear against the other.

18. In a rail anchor, the combination of a rail embracing element and a key providing means for engaging said rail embracing element with the rail which comprises two members resiliently united with each other at one end so as to be compressible one toward the other, one of said members being formed at its free extremity with a biting edge adapted to engage one of the surfaces between which said key intervenes.

19. In a rail anchor, the combination of a rail embracing element and a key providing means for engaging said rail embracing element with the rail which comprises two members resiliently united with each other at one end so as to be compressible one toward the other, one of said members being formed with a biting edge adapted to engage the rail.

20. In a rail anchor, the combination of a rail embracing element and a key for engaging said element with the rail comprising a spring member, a portion of which is obliquely disposed with respect to the edge of the rail and is adapted to bite into the same.

21. In a rail anchor, the combination of a rail embracing element and a wedge intervening between said rail embracing element and the rail and provided with a spring member, a portion of which is obliquely disposed with respect to the edge of the rail and is adapted to bite into the same.

22. In a rail anchor, the combination of a rail embracing element provided with a jaw extending around but spaced from one edge of the rail base, and a spring key V-shaped in plan view which intervenes between said jaw and the rail base.

23. In a rail anchor, the combination of a rail embracing element provided with a jaw extending around but spaced from one edge of the rail base with one corner only bearing on the top of said rail base, and a V-shaped spring key which intervenes between said jaw and the rail base.

24. In a rail anchor, the combination of a rail embracing element provided with a jaw extending around but spaced from one edge of the rail base with its inner edge diagonal to the rail base so that one corner of said jaw only bears on the top of said rail base, and a key which intervenes between said jaw and the adjacent edge of the rail base.

25. In a. rail anchor, the combination of a rail embracing element provided with a jaw extending around but spaced from one edge of the rail base with 1ts inner edge diagonal to the rall base so that one corner of said jaw only bears on the top of said rail base, and a wedge which intervenes between said jaw and the adjacent edge of the rail base.

26. In a rail anchor, the combination of a rail embracing element provided with a jaw extending around but spaced from one edge of the rail base with its inner edge diagonal to the rail base so that one corner of said jaw only bears on the top of said rail base, and a spring key which intervenes between said jaw and the adjacent edge of the rail base.

27 In a rail anchor, the combination of a rail embracing element provided with a tie abutting flange and with a jaw extending around but spaced from one edge of the rail base, the inner edge of said jaw being diagonal to the edge of the rail base so that the corner of said jaw remote from the tie abutting flange bears against the upper surface of the rail base, and a key intervening between said jaw and the rail.

28. In a rail anchor, the combination of a rail embracing element provided with a tie abuttingflange and with a jaw extending around but spaced from one edge of the rail base, the inner edge of said jaw being diagonal to the edge of the rail base so that the corner of said jaw remote from the tie abutting flange bears against the upper surface of the rail base, and a wed e intervening between said jaw and the rai 29. In a rail anchor, the combination of a rail embracing element provided with a tie abutting flange and with a jaw extending around but spaced from one edge of the rail base, the inner edge of said jaw being diagonal to the edge of the rail base so that the corner of said jaw remote from the tie abutting flange bears against the upper surface of the rail base, and a V-shaped spring key intervening between said jaw and the rail.

30. In a rail anchor, the combination of a member adapted to extend under the base of a rail formed at one end with an integral jaw engaging one edge of the rail base and at the other with an integral aw extending around but spaced from the other edge of the rail base, which latter jaw bears at one corner only on the top of the rail base, and a wedge member intervening between said last named jaw and the adjacent edge of the rail base.

31. In a rail anchor, the combination of a member adapted to extend under the base of a rail formed at one end with an integral jaw engaging one edge of the rail base and at the other with an integral jaw extending around but spaced from the other edge of the rail base, which latter jaw bears at one corner only on the top of the rail base, and a V-shaped spring key intervening between said last named jaw and the adjacent edge of the rail base.

32. In a rail anchor, the combination of a member adapted to extend under the base of a rail formed at one end with an integral jaw engaging one edge of the rail base and at the other with an integral aw extending around but spaced from the other edge of the rail base, which latter jaw bears at one corner only on the top of the rail base, and a V- shaped-spring key intervening between said last named jaw and the adjacent edge of the rail base, one leg of which is formed with a biting edge adapted to bear against the rail.

33. In a rail anchor, the combination of a member adapted to extend under the base of a rail formed at one end with an integral jaw engaging one edge of the rail base and at the other with an integral jaw extending around but spaced from the other edge of the rail base, which latter jaw bears at one corner only on the top of the rail base, and a Vshaped spring key intervening between said last named jaw and the adjacent edge of the rail base, one leg of which is formed with a biting edge adapted to bear against the rail, and with an offset which bears against the other leg when the key is in operative position.

34. In a rail anchor, the combination of a member adapted to extend under the base of a rail and formed at one end with an integral jaw engaging one edge of the rail at a point remote from the tie and at the other end with a tie abutting flange and with an integral jaw extending around but spaced away from the edge of the rail base, said jaw being narrowest at the tie abutting flange and increasing in width in the direction away from the same so that the corner of the jaw remote from the tie abutting flange bears against the upper surface of the rail base, and a V-shaped spring wedge intervening between said last mentioned jaw and the adjacent edge of the rail base, one leg of which is formed with an off-set adapted to bear against the other leg, and the leg adjacent the rail base being formed at its extremity with an edge adapted to bite into the rail base.

35. In a rail anchor, the combination of a member adapted to extend under the base of a rail and formed at one end with an integral jaw engaging one edge of the rail at a point remote from the tie and at the other end with a tie abutting flange and with an integral jaw extending around but spaced away from the edge of the rail base, said jaw being narrowest at the tie abutting flange and increasing in width in the direction away from the same so that the corner of the jaw remote from the tie abutting flange bears against the upper surface of the rail base, and a V-shaped spring wedge intervening between said last mentioned jaw and the adjacent edge of the rail base, the leg of which adjacent said rail base being formed with a curved off-set adapted to bear against the other leg thereof with its extremity provided with an edge adapted to bite into the rail base.

36. In a rail anchor, the combination of a rail embracing element and a V-shaped spring key, one leg of which is provided with an off-set adapted to bear against the other leg and to be strained when the wedge is driven into operative position.

37. In a rail anchor, the combination of a rail embracing element and a V-shaped spring key, one leg of which is provided with an off-set, the extremity of which is adapted to bear against the rail and the middle portion against the other, whereby the key when in operative position is strained.

38. In a rail anchor, the combination of a rail embracing element and wedging means intervening between the rail embracing element and the rail comprising a spring member which is formed with a bend terminating in an edge which is forced against and bites into the edge of the rail base.

EDWVARD LAAS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. G. 

